TRAIL Parks Recreation Library Community Autumn 2012 Autumn City Departments News || Services || Programs || Events || Information City Matters At Long Last—by Mayor Doug Neeley At long lAst, the oregon hour outside the core, and the new pedestrian amenities will DepArtment of trAnsportAtion make walking to and within the core area a more pleasant experi- (oDOT) hAs AnnounceD thAt, ence. furthermore, except for the four-hour meters along 6th St. bArring unforeseen circumstAnces, between High St. and the Bluff, there are no other metered spaces the oregon city Arch briDge at the top of the bluff, and elevator services have been extended will open At 4:00Am on monday, until 9:30pm on wednesdays through Saturdays through Septem- october 15. the willamette falls ber and extended on wednesdays until 8:00pm during october. Heritage Area Coalition is organizing As always, downtown parking is free on the weekends. major celebratory events on the bridge this Main Street effort is the largest capital improvement project and on both the oregon City and west in downtown oregon City in the last 30 years. the City, working Linn sides of the willamette river on the with the non-profit Main Streeto regon City, competed for grants opening date and during the preceding weekend. there were and received over $2.5 million from the federal Highway Adminis- approximately one thousand pedestrians on the bridge for the tration and oDOT to fund sidewalk, lighting, and other infrastruc- closure, so let’s have an even bigger turnout and party for the re- ture improvements. opening of this historic Conde B. McCullough arch bridge which originally opened in December of 1922, nearly 90 years ago. work completed in 2011 included an enhanced pedestrian table crossing at 10th and Main Streets, conversion of the Main Street it has been a difficult time for many of the businesses on Main St. core from one to two-way traffic and installation of a rain garden because, not only has the bridge been closed since february 2011, on 10th Street. when this year’s work is completed, visitors will but throughout most of the closure, major sidewalk and street notice the improved look, feel, and function of downtown oregon improvements have been undertaken along the Main St. corridor City. this has been accomplished by updating, repairing, and between 10th Street and Highway 99e (5th Street) and along replacing worn-out infrastructure above and below the street. Key those streets connecting railroad Ave., Main St., and McLoughlin elements of the work include: Blvd. Parking and traffic patterns have changed and business ❚❚filling gaps and/or replacing ADA deficient and crumbling side- owners and patrons alike have been frustrated by the parking fee walks, curbs and ramps. increases and by the frequent lack of easy access to parking during ❚❚installing bicycle parking, street furnishings, artwork and ad- construction. fortunately, the Main St. construction will be mostly ditional urban tree canopies. complete before the oregon City Chamber of Commerce’s annual ❚❚Constructing an enhanced (table) pedestrian crossing at 7th Antique fair, which will take place on Saturday, August 26. Street and railroad Avenue. the reason for these Main St. changes is that many business ❚❚Adding new energy efficient parking meters and LeD street owners felt that two-way traffic through the Main St. core would lights for improved pedestrian comfort, safety and access increase traffic through this commercial area and transportation throughout the commercial district. studies agree. Additionally, it is hoped that restricting time at ❚❚Constructing new sidewalks to improve the connection from parking meters to two hours along the core will result in vehicle Main Street to the Arch Bridge. ❚ turnover thereby increasing customer patronage. the Main St. ❚replacing the water mainline and services on Main Street. ❚ two-hour parking limit only exists in the core and the time restric- ❚implementing post-Arch Bridge rehabilitation recommendations from the Downtown Circulation Study (http://www.orcity.org/ tion does not exist north of 10th St. Also, while the parking rates node/2832/). increased to one-dollar/hour in the core, the rates are fifty-cents/ ❚❚Laying conduit for future telecommunication fiber so the street will not have to be torn up in the future for fiber optic service. if you haven’t visited downtown oregon City in a while (and even if you have), please visit again and see all the improvements that have been made. you can check out some of the new artwork, benches, trees, and don’t forget to stop and visit the local mer- chants! our Public work’s staff, Main Street oregon City, oDOT, our engineering consultant wallis engineering, and our Main Street construction contractor nutter Corporation along with oDOT’s bridge contractor wildish Construction, their engineering consul- tant oBeC and all the subs and employees deserve our greatest thanks for their efforts. Most importantly, our Main Street business owners and patrons deserve our gratitude for their patience and helpful suggestions! 2 TrailNews Autumn 2012 City of oregon City | 625 Center Street | Po Box 3040 | oregon City, OR 97045 | 503.657.0891 | www.orCity.org City Departments Mayor—Doug neeley Police Chief/Public Safety Director—Mike Conrad Commissioners—Betty Mumm, Carol Pauli, Interim Public Works Director—John Lewis Kathy roth, rocky L. Smith Jr. Community Development Director—tony Konkol City Manager—David frasher Community Services Director—Scott Archer City Recorder—nancy ide Finance Director—wyatt Parno Economic Development Manager—eric Underwood Human Resources Director—Jim Loeffler Library Director—Maureen Cole the mAyor AnD city commissioners are volunteers who do not keep regular office hours.t hey may be reached via voice mail at 503.657.0891. city commission meetings are held the first and thirdw ednesdays of each month at 7:00pm in the Com- See page 30 for mission Chambers at City Hall. Any citizen is welcome to address the Commission on any subject at the begin- a list of useful ning of each meeting. Community, City Commission regular meetings are streamed live on the internet at www.orcity.org and are available on City and other demand following the meeting. willamette falls Cable broadcasts meetings live on Channel 23 at 7:00pm and Government rebroadcasts them throughout the month. for a broadcast schedule logon to http://www.wftvmedia.org or call phone numbers. 503.650.0275. Autumn 2012 Trail News—Contents 4 Community Services 32 Public Works Parks Department ___________________________ 4 new Jughandle travel routes ________________ 32 Mountain View Cemetery _____________________ 7 roundabout rules __________________________ 33 recreation __________________________________ 8 Arch Bridge grand re-opening ______________ 33 Swimming Pool _____________________________ 10 Pavement Maintenance Utility fee ____________ 31 Public Library ______________________________ 14 transportation System Plan __________________ 31 Pioneer Community Center __________________ 18 Keep Catch Basins Clear _____________________ 34 25 Fire Department water Pressure vs. water flow ________________ 34 Be Safe by getting out and Staying out! ______ 25 Health & Safety fair ________________________ 25 35 Conservation & Sustainability Clackamas river water Providers ______________ 35 26 Police Department Clackamas County Sustainability ______________ 35 Back to School Safety _______________________ 26 fall Shred-it & Cell Phone recycling event _____ 26 36 Announcements & Special Events Unclaimed/found Property for Auction________ 26 Special olympics ___________________________ 36 Victim Assistance Program ___________________ 26 Sister City Committee _______________________ 36 Stevens-Crawford House ____________________ 36 27 Code Enforcement farmers Market _____________________________ 37 Street Parking regulations ___________________ 27 willamette falls Media Center ________________ 37 frequently Asked Questions _________________ 27 Downtown Car Show _______________________ 37 28 Community Information & Development Clackamas County tourism & Cultural Affairs __ 38 neighborhood Association Meetings __________ 28 fill a Stocking, fill a Heart ____________________ 39 Metro enhancement grants Awarded _________ 29 Holiday wreaths ____________________________ 39 City Meetings ______________________________ 29 Annual tree Lighting ________________________ 39 Community, City & other gov’t Contacts _____ 30 Spirits of Historic oregon City ________________ 40 Building Permits ____________________________ 30 trick or treat on Main Street _________________ 40 effective Comments on Development Apps ____ 30 Swamp Swim ______________________________ 40 Front Cover Photo—Singer Creek Falls by Jackie Hammond | Graphic Design & Image Editing—©Gwen Speicher/Gwen’s Graphic Solutions Photo Usage—On occasion the Oregon City Parks & Recreation staff may take photos of participants enrolled in recreation programs, events or people on Parks & Recreation properties. Such photos are for Parks & Recreation use only and may be used in future publications or flyers. Autumn 2012 TrailNews 3 City of oregon City | 625 Center Street | Po Box 3040 | oregon City, OR 97045 | 503.657.0891 | www.orCity.org Parks Department—500 Hilda St || 503.496.1201 || www.orcity.org City of oregon City Parks & facilities Map Legend City Limits Clackamas Parks River Trail Park Place UGB Skatepark 18 7 19 Fire Station Clackamette 8 Hospital Public Building 99 HWY FRONT End of HOLCOMB Streets Jon